“The pupils of Pinecrest Academy sent 3275 stuffed animals to Mississippi and Louisiana to comfort children who had lost everything.”

Atlanta, GA, September 22, 2005. In recent weeks, Pinecrest Academy
students have supported the victims of Hurricane Katrina in various
ways - living the spirit of service that is an
integral part of personal student formation at Pinecrest Academy. Faculty,
Administrators, Students and families worked together to serve those affected
by Hurricane Katrina. They collected a truckload of bottled water,
3275 stuffed animals to comfort children who had lost everything,
600 boxes of crayons and 400 coloring books to give
children activity to help them cope. The entire Pinecrest Academy
community offered prayers and masses. Students reached into their own
piggy banks, and families sacrificed what they have to collect
nearly $9000, which was donated, on behalf of Pinecrest Academy,
to Catholic World Missions.

For the adult victims, students
and parents put together “hygiene” packages that included deodorant, toothpaste
and other toiletries to fulfill their most basic needs. Diapers,
wipes, and other infant-care items were collected and loaded on
a truck rented by generous Pinecrest Academy parents who drove
these supplies to New Orleans and Mississippi. Pinecrest parents Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Walker recently returned from delivering these supplies
and a truckload of water to a town in Mississippi
that was totally devastated by the eye of the hurricane.
In a letter to the Pinecrest Academy families, they wrote,
“We want you to know …things were so bad that
there were no houses or buildings standing. People (stranded there)
were digging through battered pantries to find enough food to
survive. The day the Pinecrest truck arrived, the people were
so unbelievably grateful. The items you donated did not go
to a center, but directly to people who were starving,
thirsty and completely devastated by the hurricane. As Archbishop Gregory
said at mass yesterday, you truly let your light shine
all the way to Mississippi. Your donations made such a
difference to real people who were truly heartbroken and without
hope. Additionally, your truck brought back a family who was
relocating to Lilburn, Georgia. Thank you so much for your
generosity.”

By their own initiative, several Pinecrest Academy families have opened
their homes to evacuees. The school has also opened its
doors to families who have temporarily relocated and seek to
continue to provide for the educational needs of their children.
Pinecrest Academy has expedited its admissions process to admit qualified
applicants to the school. Faculty, staff and families have worked
together to accommodate additional students in grades where we do
not have space – all sacrificing for brothers and sisters
in need, opening doors and hearts as Christ would desire
us to do. The needs of the victims of Hurricane
Katrina will continue for some time. Pinecrest Academy will continue
to serve as long as there are needs to fill.